Holding element for mounting metal frame nets, especially lateral trunk nets

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a holding element for mounting metal frame nets, especially lateral trunk nets. Said holding element comprises a snap-in device ( 2 ), an annular shoulder ( 5 ), and a fixation element that can be engaged with the metal frame of the metal frame net for fixating the same. In order to reliably fixate the metal frame net on a trunk bottom or trunk wall covering, the distance between the snap-in device ( 2 ) and the annular shoulder ( 5 ) corresponds approximately to the thickness of the trunk bottom or trunk wall covering on which the holding element ( 1 ) is fixated by means of the snap-in element ( 2 ).

The invention relates to a holding element for mounting metal frame nets, especially lateral trunk nets, which comprises a snap-in device, an annular shoulder and a fixing element that can be engaged with the metal frame of the metal frame net for fixing the same.

The increased use of nets in motor vehicles and other comparable vehicles is associated with problems in that these nets, which are often metal frame nets, have to be affixed in a suitable manner to the sections of walls, seatbacks etc., which sections have been provided for them.

It is thus the object of the invention to create a holding element for affixing metal frame nets which makes it possible to economically and reliably affix a metal frame net, in particular a lateral trunk net, to a trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering.

According to the invention, this object is met in that the distance between the snap-in device and the annular shoulder, corresponds approximately to the thickness of the trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering to which the holding element can be affixed by means of the snap-in device. This results in reliable fixing of the holding element to the trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering which leads to a correspondingly reliable fixing of the metal frame net at the desired location. The holding elements according to the invention can either be supplied as components of the metal frame net, or they can be preinstalled at the desired locations. In the latter case, for the purpose of installation, the metal frame net simply has to be made to engage the respective fixing element of the holding element. The holding elements can be affixed at any desired locations on the trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering.

Advantageously, the snap-in device is formed by at least two clip catches which are preferably diametrically opposed to each other, wherein said clip catches are sprung components on the holding element and in their released position jam the trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering between themselves and the annular shoulder. As is the case with the annular shoulder, the clip catches in their released state protrude beyond the external circumference of the section of the holding bush, from which section said clip catches are formed so that the trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering can be affixed or jammed between the distal ends of the clip catches, which distal ends are located opposite the annular shoulder, and the annular shoulder.

If the holding element is to serve as a lower holding element, it is advantageous if the fixing element of the holding element is a holding bush comprising a casing recess into which a section of the metal frame of the metal frame net can be clipped in.

If the holding element is to serve as an upper holding element, the fixing element of the holding element advantageously is a plug-in receptacle into which a plug-in section of the metal frame of the metal frame net can be plugged in.

Especially plastic, preferably Ultramid B3S, has shown to be particularly advantageous as a material for the holding element.

Below, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The following are shown:

FIG. 1 a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a holding element according to the invention;

FIG. 2 a section view, rotated by 90 degrees, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, of the holding element according to the invention;

FIG. 3 a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the holding element according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 a section view, rotated by 90 degrees, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, of the holding element according to the invention.

An embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, of a holding element 1 according to the invention is used to affix a metal frame net, in particular a lateral trunk net, to a trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering. Neither the metal frame net nor the trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

The holding element shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a snap-in device 2, which in the embodiment shown is formed by two clip catches 3, 4. In the embodiment shown, the two clip catches 3, 4 are made in one piece together with the holding element 1 and—due to the elasticity of the material from which the holding element 1 is made—can engage in spring action, around their proximal ends, in relation to the remaining holding element 1. The two clip catches 3, 4 are arranged so as to be diametrically opposed at the circumference of the holding element i; they expand from their proximal to their distal ends, with these ends protruding in their released state beyond the external circumference on the section of the holding element 1 which section forms the clip catches 3, 4.

Furthermore, the holding element 1 comprises a radially protruding annular shoulder 5 which is opposite the free distal ends of the clip catches 3, 4 of the snap-in device 2.

The distance between the underside of the annular shoulder 5, which annular shoulder 5 is located opposite the clip catches 3, 4 on the one hand and the free distal ends of the clip catches 3, 4 on the other hand, approximately corresponds to the thickness of the trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering so that said covering can be jammed between the clip catches 3, 4 and the annular shoulder 5.

If the holding element 1 is plugged through the trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering, due to the elasticity of the material from which the holding element 1 is made, the clip catches 3, 4 spring radially inward, and then immediately spring back to their released position, shown in FIG. 1, as soon as the clip catches 3, 4 have been completely pushed through the trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering. As soon as this has happened, the trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering is jammed between the distal ends of the clip catches 3, 4 and the underside of the annular shoulder 5. The holding element 1 is now in its affixed position.

For the purpose of affixing a section of the metal frame of the metal frame net, the holding element 1 shown in FIGS. i and 2 comprises a holding bush 6 which forms a cylindrical receptacle for a section of the metal frame, wherein this cylindrical receptacle is accessible via a casing recess 7 in the holding bush 6. The holding bush 6 is arranged on the face of the annular shoulder 5, which face points away from the clip catches 3, 4, wherein the casing recess 7 is arranged directly above the annular shoulder 5. The width of the casing recess 7 is somewhat narrower than the diameter of the metal frame of the metal frame net so that the metal frame is fixed within the holding bush 6 after said metal frame has been pushed into the cylindrical receptacle of said holding bush 6, taking advantage of the elastic characteristics of the material which forms the holding element 1.

The holding element 1 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 differs from the holding element 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that its fixing element is a plug-in receptacle 8 into which a plug-in section of the metal frame of the metal frame net can be plugged. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plug-in receptacle 8 extends in longitudinal direction through the holding element 1.

The holding element 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 usually serves as a lower holder, while the holding element 1 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 usually serves as an upper holder for the corresponding sections of the metal frame of the metal frame net.

The plastic material Ultramid B3S has proven to be a particularly suitable material for the holding element 1 in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2, and 3 and 4, respectively. 

1. A holding arrangement for affixing a lateral trunk net, comprising holding elements (1) by means of which the lateral trunk net can be fixed to a trunk bottom or trunk wall, characterized in that each holding element (1) comprises a snap-in device (2), an annular shoulder (5) and a fixing element (6, 8), a distance between the snap-in device (2) and the annular shoulder (5) corresponding approximately to the thickness of a trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering to which each holding element (1) can be affixed by means of its snap-in device (2), the lateral trunk net further comprising a metal frame which can be engaged with the fixing elements (6, 8) of the holding elements (1).
 2. The holding element according to claim 1, in which the snap-in device (2) is formed by at least two clip catches (3, 4) which are preferably diametrically opposed to each other, wherein said clip catches are sprung components on the holding element and in their released position jam the trunk bottom covering or trunk wall covering between themselves and the annular shoulder (5).
 3. The holding element according to claim 1, whose fixing element is a holding bush (6) comprising a casing recess (7), wherein a section of the metal frame of the metal frame net can be clipped into said holding bush
 6. 4. The holding element according to claim 1, whose fixing element is a plug-in receptacle (8) into which a plug-in section of the metal frame of the metal frame net can be plugged.
 5. The holding element according to claim 1, which is made from a plastic material, preferably Ultramid B3S. 